Truth About Ketogenic Diet Protein

Truth About Ketogenic Diet Protein

A popular myth in the world of keto and low-carb dieting is that excess protein will turn into sugar in the absence of carbohydrates. This seems to confuse many beginners in keto dieting. Although it is true that eating too much protein is not good for your diet, there is no reason to fear protein. In this article, we will clear the air about this myth and learn the truth about ketogenic diet protein. We will also cover how much protein is ideal for the ketogenic diet.

Protein, as we know, is an important nutrient in our body. We refer to it as the muscle builder and it is true. However, protein plays another important role in your body: providing the essential amino acids. Some of the essential amino acids can be synthesized by the body, some of them can not. Those amino acids that our bodies are not capable of producing can only be obtained by dietary protein intake. Therefore, ignoring your keto diet protein is almost the same as not eating enough calories. It will be very detrimental to your health.

On the other hand, it is also true that protein can be fuel your body if your carbohydrates intake is low. It is also true that eating protein increases blood sugar temporarily. This is because our pancreas’s alpha cells produce more glucagon whenever we eat something solid. Glucagon is a peptide hormone that elevates the amount of glucose in our blood.

However, it is important to understand that protein will not be converted into sugar. It will not turn into belly fat or make you gain weight. Although eating excess protein does slow the production of ketones, it will not instantly knock you out of ketosis. Once you are in ketosis, your body is already reliant on fats to burn as the main source of the body’s energy. So don’t fret too much on your protein intake. In fact, on the keto diet, protein is much more helpful in your low-carb diet than you think it is.

In a keto diet, the main goal is to achieve good health or weight loss, through low-carb intake while still feeling satisfied and full. Though the main source of food in the keto diet should be fats, protein can do a lot to help. Not to mention its role in keeping your muscles intact while reducing weight. It is, therefore, advisable to maintain a moderate intake of protein, especially when you are just starting on this low-carb diet. The ideal amount of protein is around 1-2.5 grams per kilograms of body mass. Once you enter the ketosis state, you can adjust your protein intake depending on your goals.

If you are on a keto diet for medical purposes, you should lower your protein intake to produce more ketones in your blood. On the other hand, if you are an athlete or do a lot of physical activities, you should eat more protein to satisfy your hunger. This is due to your increased metabolism.

Now that you know the truth, you should never again skip on your keto diet protein intake. Eating protein is a very important part of the keto diet, as much as eating more fats and less carbs. You only need to find the right balance according to your goals and preferences.